October 18, 2008

The Hall of Champions

By: OtisPug Difficulty: 5.0 Terrain: 5.0 Container: Not chosen

Thanks for the bonus cache at the end of a long and interesting hike. bthomas showed our GBA group the way and we were amazed and impressed with what we found. Thanks!

Inyo-Death Valley Cache

By: Tony and Allen Difficulty: 1.5 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Great to discover this northern access to Death Valley. I loved seeing the Joshua tree forest along the way. Thanks for placing a cache to mark the spot.

Eureka

By: Gadfly Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 2.5 Container: Regular

Not having the benefit of daylight, our route to the cache was direct and steep. No matter, we were having fun out in the desert enjoying the wide-open spaces. DeLorme page #125...check! TFTC.

Ghosts of Miners Past

By: Mountain Lovers Difficulty: 3.0 Terrain: 5.0 Container: Small

I visited this wonderful cache with the GBA group. I really enjoyed wheeling to the trailhead, but the hike was another matter! Never again will I complain about my commute to work! What a great adventure to share with friends. The mine camp was fantastic, and a chance to explore the old mine shafts a once in a truely unique opportunity. As I descended the endless switchbacks, my considerable sense of accomplishment swelled even further. Did I truly hike all that way? Wow! Thanks for the adventure and the cache.

Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park

By: Trogdog Difficulty: 2.0 Terrain: 5.0 Container: Not chosen

After a fantastic day wheeling and hiking up to Champion Mine, I had this crazy idea that the remote SE corner of the DeLorme challenge was still within reach. So we raced the sunset and made it just in time. I think I must have given bthomas, KendraH, and airsax a washboard ride to remember! It was probably more like ice skating...until we hit those loose sand pits! [:O] Unfortunately, the sunset was perfectly still and quiet. Absolutely no wind meant that the dunes were mute as well. Actually, the silence was awesome; it was so unlike the hustle and bustle we come from in everyday life, and contibuted to the majestic emptiness of the Death Valley desert. Members of my group have already posted several pictures that included me at ground zero. My favorite is the one of Fizzy and me taken by bthomas. Those smiles say it all. Thanks for sharing this wonderful spot!